Staff Writer
Interest in blogs is rising in Zimbabwe, mirroring trends across the world where ideas and information are increasingly sourced from bloggers with their fingers on the pulse of modern life.
One such bloggers is Zimbabwean Larry Kwirirayi, whose 3 Men On A Boat blog has become a go-to place for people interested in a wide range of issues, including lifestyle and entertainment.
Kwirirayi was not always a blogger, though, having in his career been a credit controller, systems administrator, MC, performance poet, actor, digital guru and leader of a rock band, among other things.
“I believe in playing as much as possible, to find things we want to achieve in life. We live once, so everything is possible,” he said.
He believes the world or arts and entertainment gives everyone something special in life.
“I think we see ourselves a lot in the fictional characters we see, hear or read about,” he said.
“It is in this context that I write and produce podcast drama series. When people see fictional characters, the conversations they elicit allow them to find spaces in themselves for introspection. I also think it is great for escapism from a crazy world. Real cartharsis.”
Kwirirayi is a big fan of a range of entertainment types. He enjoys TV programmes from the Old School, such as Friends, or Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.
“I am also loving the new original stories coming out such as the series Lioness, as well as Deon Meyer’s Trackers.”
In the world of film he has enjoyed such varied content as the first three Die Hards, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Sleepless In Seattle, Pulp Fiction and “just about anything with Denzel Washington in it.”
His interest in music is just as deep and he listens to different types of music according to his mood.
As someone who follows DStv closely for his blog and for enjoyment, he likes that “it keeps evolving its technology.” “I don’t remember life before Catch-Up and being able to watch stuff remotely. And the expansive sports coverage on SuperSport1 is pretty awesome. I do miss some of the British TV channels they used to have, though.”
Kwirirayi has been on a number of educational and facilitation tours with MultiChoice. In 2015 he attended a major pan-African Content Showcase in Mauritius, and he was personally at the DStv Connect roadshow in 2017 and was present for launch of Trackers in 2019.
“The Mauritius event still sticks in my mind, not for the obvious reason of it being held ‘in paradise and all’ but because of the dynamic nature of content to which we were exposed, meeting the different partners, finding out how they work. This has also influenced how I will create content going forward. The telling of stories from Africa is important and must be treated delicately and with seriousness.”
Zimbabwe’s film scene is vibrant, he believes, a thought that echoes the belief of many people at present, in Zimbabwe and beyond.
“The film community is coming up now and I am excited to see where it may go. The future looks incredibly bright,” he said.
Kwirirayi is delighted with response to his 3mob blog, which he describes as overwhelming.
“From a basic blog at its start to its present status as an information and lifestyle brand developing
multiple asset, I am thrilled with response and with its ongoing development. In fact, I am honoured.”
About Author
